Breastfeeding Seeing U.S Increase

The number of mothers in the US choosing to breastfeed their babies is on the rise, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC data reveals that within a 10-year period between 2000 and 2010, the data reveals that the percentage of hospitals using “key maternity practices,” which enables mothers and babies to be kept together following birth, has also increased.

Percentage of babies who were first breastfed

2000 – 71%

2010 – 77%

Change: 6%

Percentage of babies breastfed at 6 months

2000 – 35%

2010 – 49%

Change: 14%

Percentage of babies breastfed at 12 months

2000 – 16%

2010 – 27%

Change: 11%

Additionally, the data shows that the percentage of hospitals reporting newborn babies staying in the same room as their mother for a minimum of 23 hours each day has increased 7%, from 30% in 2007 to 37% in 2011.

The percentage of hospitals where the majority of newborns had “skin-to-skin” contact with their mother directly after birth increased 13%, from 41% in 2007 to 54% in 2011.